'Grace Mugabe should learn from jailing of ex-Ivorian First Lady'

Local political analysts yesterday said the recent jailing of Ivory Coast's former First Lady Simone Gbabgo sends a clear message to politicians fond of abusing power and trampling on the rights of the public during their tenure that they would be made to account for their past deeds once they have left office.

Simone, whose husband, former Ivorian President Laurent Gbabgo, is still facing trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, was slapped with a 20-year-jail term by an Ivorian court over the role she played in the 2011 post-election crisis in the West African country.

Gbagbo's refusal to accept defeat to the incumbent Alassane Ouattara in the 2010 elections triggered a transitory civil war that led to the death of 3 000 people.

Analyst Charles Mangongera said: "I don't know if this holds any lessons for our own First Lady who has just entered the political fray, but my sense is that any political regime that tramples on the rights of the people to stay in power is living on borrowed time."

Grace joined active politics last year when she became Zanu PF Women's League boss and subsequently secured a politburo slot.

Along the way during her political rise, she destroyed the political careers of many people perceived to have been working with former Vice-President Joice Mujuru in an alleged plot to topple Mugabe from power.